My guest for episode 21 is Brett Terpstra of brettterpstra.com.

Bio

Brett Terpstra is Tech Lead for AOL Tech (Engadget, TUAW, Joystiq), a coder and a writer. He develops Marked and nvALT, as well as a plethora of side projects.

He lives in Winona, MN with his wife, Aditi. They have 2 dogs of their own (and run a pit bull rescue), as well as 3 cats and an African Grey parrot.

Summary

Brett is a guy who clearly loves programming and coding. I enjoyed picking his brain about his various projects (he’s got a ton!) including Marked.app, NVAlt, his iOS Text Editor Comparison chart, and we finished by discussing his thoughts on where Apple and programming for Mac and iOS is headed.

Show Notes & URLs Mentioned

• Brett’s projects
• Mac Power Users with Brett Terpstra
• The Bro Show with Brett Terpstra
• MacStories Interviews Brett Terpstra
• Brett’s Podcast: Systematic Episode 1
• MoodBlast
• Sweet Mac Setup with Shawn Blanc
• Bash-it
• Question from @shawnblanc
• NValt
• Notational Velocity
• Marked.app Canadian Mac App Store / US Mac App Store
• Markdown
• Elastic Threads
• Markdown Quicktags WordPress plugin
• Markdown on Save Improved WordPress plugin
• iOS Text Editors page
• Textastic (Canadian App Store / US App Store
• Writing Kit Canadian App Store / US App Store
• Byword for iOS Canadian App Store / US App Store
• Markdown Service Tools

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My guest for episode 20 is Don McAllister of Screencastsonline.com. A Mac fan who also makes his living by teaching others how to use the Mac, iPhone and iPad.

Bio

Don runs screencastsonline.com – a video tutorial service dedicated to explaining software for the Mac. He’s also a frequent guest on other podcasts such as Macbreak Weekly with Leo Laporte.

Summary

Don is a guy who first came on my radar through a video production podcast called Izzy Video – but he’s since become the home to the best video tutorials and screencasts on the Mac. He’s built up a business with a membership model where people currently pay $57USD for three months of membership – which includes access to all the videos he’s made, plus a new video each week.

We talked about the origins of his life in podcasting and how doing tech support for people proved to be easier with a screencast. Eventually Don developed enough of a following that people were wanting to donate to help improve the quality of the screencasts. We talked about the time it took to get membership support to a level where it could support him full time. We also go over a bit of his workflow and the time involved in producing each week’s screencast. And we talk about what Don’s learned in running a membership model website and the value you need to provide for people so that they’ll want to support you.

Show Notes & URLs Mentioned

Mac Apps:

• SCOtutor for Mac
• SCOtutor for iPad
• SCOtutor for Lion – ScreenCastsOnline

iPad Apps:

• SCOtutor for Mac
• SCOtutor for iPad
• SCOtutor for Lion

Other Links:

• TextExpander for iOS
• TextExpander for Mac
• themacscreencastguy.com blog
• 2010 Setup and Workflow
• ScreenFlow – Telestream, Inc.
• Final Cut Pro – Apple
• Matrox MXO2
• OmniOutliner – The Omni Group
• OmniOutliner Pro for Mac – The Omni Group
• OmniOutliner for iPad – The Omni Group
• RapidWeaver
• Follow Don McAllister on Twitter

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My guest for episode 19 is Shawn Blanc of shawnblanc.net. A Mac and technology blogger who is also a big fan of making coffee and taking the time to do things right.

Bio

Shawn Blanc lives in Kansas City, and writes full time for the website that bears his name, shawnblanc.net.

Summary

Shawn is someone that I’ve watched take his blog/website from a hobby to a full time gig that’s supporting him and his family. We talked about his daily audio (and sometimes video) show, Shawn Today, that he offers to members of his site. Another topic is writing and how messy it is, his process for writing longer form articles vs linking to someone else’s post, the applications he uses to post to his blog. We also chatted about what he considers his metric for the success of his blog and what things to avoid as you strive to make your creative venture even better. And finally – we did cover his method for making coffee.

Show Notes & URLs Mentioned

• ShawnBlanc.net
• Tools and Toys.net
• Members page on ShawnBlanc.net
• 2010 post on how Shawn writes an article
• Simplenote for iPhone
• NValt – fork of Notational Velocity
• Byword for Mac
• MarsEdit blogging software for Mac
• Markdown
• Instapaper for iPhone or iPad
• Wiretap Studio
• MacStories.net
• The Verge

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My guest for episode 18 is Jim Dalrymple of The Loop. Mac and technology blogger who also loves to play guitar and a fellow Canadian who occasionally gets angry at RIM.

Just a word of explanation – when we started the recording Jim and I were talking about living life in Eastern Canada. It kind of sounds like Jim is saying he wants to end it all after 10 years – he’s just referring to winter in Canada. Which may prompt you to want to end it all, but that’s not what we were talking about.

I digress… Chris

Bio

Jim has been following Apple and its products for the last 17 years, first as one of the original members of MacCentral, then at Macworld. He held several positions at Macworld over his time there, including his final job as Editor at Large, before leaving in 2009.

Currently Jim runs The Loop – a Mac and technology site that boasts over 10 thousand subscribers and half a million page views each month.

Summary

Jim has been reporting on the Mac since 1994 and has a wealth of knowledge and opinions about the Mac and related technologies. We talk about his first Mac, the reason he got into writing about the Mac and how he decides on what to post on The Loop. We also chat about how The Loop supports him and his family and his thoughts on advertising/sponsorship of his site.

We also talk about some slightly less serious/Mac topics – such as what guitar(s) and apps he’d take on the “stranded on a desert island” scenario, as well as the story behind his Twitter avatar where he’s standing next to Slash.

Show Notes & URLs Mentioned

• The Loop
• Yahoo Answers on how to pronounce Dalrymple
• @anthonystauffer
• The Loop RIM’s Playbook is an albatross
• Mac Performa 5200CD
• Les Paul guitars
• Pro Tools
• AmpKit+ for iPhone / AmpKit+ for iPad
• Line6
• Mr Gruber at Daringfireball.net
• Jim’s beard on Twitter @dalrymplesBeard
• @jdalrymple

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My guest for episode 17 is Alison Prince of Howdoesshe.com – a crafty-mommy blog with nearly 30,000 readers. We talk about how she does howdoesshe.com

Bio

Alison Princeis one of three co-founders of howdoeshe.com – a website built around the idea of answering the question “How does she do that?” – helping women balance a healthy lifestyle, throw the perfect party or implementing creative ideas with their families.

And in addition to that, Alison is also a mother of four, and a self-proclaimed craft genius.

Summary

We talk about the start of their website, what their initial goals were and things they learned along the way. We also talked about the growth of the site to where it is now with over 30,000 subscribers and 13,000 followers on Facebook – what’s worked, what hasn’t. And Alison also gives her advice to anyone looking to follow in their footsteps and start their own blog.

Show Notes & URLs Mentioned

• howdoesshe.com
• Listed as one of Babble.com’s Top 50 Mommy Blogs in 2011
• Follow them on Facebook or Twitter
• The Google Juice – a podcast about marketing online
• Stumbleupon
• Good Things Utah

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In episode 16 I’m joined by Matt Rix – game developer and creator of Trainyard, an iOS game released in 2010.

Play or download episode 16 here.

Buy Trainyard for only $0.99:

Bio

Matt Rix is the creator of Trainyard, a popular iPhone game that he made in his spare time. For a week in October of 2010, Trainyard was the #2 app on the App Store.

Matt graduated from the “Multimedia Design and Production” program at Humber College in 2005, and then worked at Indusblue in Toronto as a Flash Developer for five years. In January of 2011 he founded Magicule, a game development company, where he’s now focused on creating innovative mobile games.

Summary

We chatted about starting out as a Flash developer and making the jump to iOS development, Matt’s inspiration for Trainyard (hint: it involves riding on trains), how developing a trial app helped get him familiar to iOS before spending time on Trainyard. We also go through his release, marketing and promotion of Trainyard and talk about what works and what doesn’t on the iTunes App store.

Finally, we talked about developing for RIM’s Playbook (including his review of actually seeing his app running on a Playbook), his plans for Android and iPad versions of Trainyard, an update to Trainyard called Trainyard Engineer as well as what he’s got in store for a followup to Trainyard.

Show Notes & URLs Mentioned

• Blog post: The story so far…
• Blog post: The week that was
• Blog post: Four Months
• Italian Gaming Site Reviews Trainyard Express
• Matt’s blog: struct.ca
• Twitter: @mattrix

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In episode 15 I’m joined by Dale Zak – co-founder of Apps4Good and mobile developer with Ushahidi.

Bio

Dale is a software developer passionate about using technology for social change. After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan and spending a number of years developing applications for the corporate world, Dale has now shifted his focus to helping initiatives that empower disadvantaged groups. He organized the Mobile Tech 4 Social Change and iPhone Hackathon 4 Charity events in Halifax, and co-founded Apps4Good, an alliance of software developers that build iPhone applications for charity.

Dale has both volunteered and worked for social good organizations like The Extraordinaries, FrontlineSMS and Ushahidi. Last spring he travelled to Rwanda to help deploy a medical record system at a small rural hospital in Gitwe.

Summary

Dale is a guy who is passionate about using technology to help people in need. He’s using his software developer training to develop and build up resources and tools for developing nations and people in times of crisis. We talked about his education and training, and what sparked his focus on mobile development as well as helping and volunteering his time as a developer. We also talked about the Ushahidi project – open source mapping and social media tracking software that helps track and build up data for support and emergency response.

Show Notes & URLs Mentioned

• Mobile Tech 4 Social Change
• Apps4Good
• Meet Me Here
• Wish You Were Here
• The Hub Halifax
• Ushahidi
• Ushahidi iOS App
• Ushahidi Android App
• CrowdMap
• Saskatoon Bike Map
• Extraordinaries / Sparked
• Open Data Star Phoenix Article
• Dale’s Rwanda photoset on Picasa
• Gitwe
• iHub Nairobi
• Dale’s Blog
• @dalezak on Twitter

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In episode 14 I’m joined by Tara Hunt – CEO and co-founder of Shwowp.com as well as an author and co-creator of the Co-working movement.

Since recording this interview, Tara and her team have rebuilt/rebranded Shwowp as Buyosphere.

Bio

Tara is the author of The Whuffie Factor – a book about using the power of social networks to build your business. She’s the co-founder of the worldwide Coworking Movement, and has been called one of the most influential women in technology.

Her most recent role is that of CEO & Co-Founder of Shwowp – a website that helps you organize and share your shopping history – which was listed as one of the 25 women-run startups to watch in a recent Fast Company article.

Summary

Tara and I chat a bit about her background, what drew her to San Francisco and the what brought her back to Canada. We also talked about how blogging brought her to a book deal and the differences in writing for yourself vs writing for an editor.

We spent the last half (or so) talking about what’s involved in running a startup and what kind of person you need to be to handle it – the negative aspects of startup life as well as the upsides. And we find out what Tara’s definition of success is for her startup – though she refused to spill the beans on what the new name of Shwowp is going to be.

Show Notes & URLs Mentioned

• Shel Israel
• Zappos
• The Whuffie Factor (Book site) / Amazon (Hardcover) / Amazon (Softcover)
• The Most Influential Women in Technology
• http://shwowp.com/
• @missrogue

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My guest for episode 13 is Tyson McShane – band leader for Slow Down, Molasses, a Saskatoon based band set to release their second album and go on tour.

Bio

By day Tyson works as a City Planner for the City of Saskatoon, where he’s involved in community engagement and policy development – SaskatoonSpeaks.com is one project that he was involved with. By night (and evenings and weekends I’m sure), he’s the band leader for Slow Down, Molasses a band who are on the verge of releasing their sophomore album, Walk Into the Sea.

Summary

We chat about the inspiration and artistic side of music, as well as the business and marketing side of being in a band in 2011 – and what changes the internet has brought to the music industry. Be sure to listen to the end for Tyson’s advice to new bands/artists starting out in the Canadian music scene and where to focus your energy and time when promoting your work.

Show Notes & URLs Mentioned

• Carbon Dating Service
• Julie Doiron
• Ohbijou
• Saskatchewan Arts Board
• Slow Down, Molasses on Bandcamp
• Social networking with Slow Down, Molasses: blog, Facebook, & Twitter

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My guest for episode 12 is Stanely Chow – a caricaturist from Manchester, England who’s work has been featured around the world.

Apologies in advance for the low audio level of my voice. Hit a button I shouldn’t have evidently. Time to hire a new audio engineer!

Bio

Stanely Chow is an illustrator, artist, DJ, dad & husband based in Manchester, England. He’s done commissioned illustration work for the likes of GQ, Elle, Vodafone, Volkswagen, and the BBC. He’s recently returned to doing what was his first love – caricatures. He now makes a living selling prints of his caricatures online through his website, stanleychow.co.uk.

Summary

We talked a bit about his background in drawing at an early age, school training and subsequent work with an agency doing commissioned illustrations for magazines and promotions around the world – including designing the artwork for The White Stripes special USB key version of their Icky Thump album. We also got into the transition he was forced to make when the recession hit that ended up allowing him to return to doing what he loves – drawing caricatures and supporting himself and his family in the process.

Show Notes & URLs Mentioned

• White Stripes USB Key album artwork (web archive) / Wikipedia entry
• Cristiano Ronaldo
• Margot Tenenbaum
• David Bowie
• Mother and Daughter – Princess Leia
• Von Trapp’s
• No Country for Old Men
• 007 – James Bond
• Stanley’s Big Cartel shop

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